Matchen

Matchen is one of the four seasonal festivals in the Drakinn calendar, celebrated by the Drakiss. It celebrates the Writhe with both public elements (including the acceptance of new members) which follow well defined processes and private elements where the members of the Writhe strengthen the bonds that build ythis fundamental block of Drakiss society.

History

Since time out of memory Drakiss colonies have celebrated their relationships as part of their annual cycle. Many species do something similar but most commonly as part of a pair bond - for the Drakiss, who's gender changes several times over their adult years, the norm is for groups to form that are rather larger s that the group can remain stable despite the changes occurring to each individual Drakiss.

That Matchen is of great antiquity is shown by its presence, in one form or another, in all colonies. The deliberate tendency of colonies to exchange members will have contributed to its spread but makes it difficult to identify commonalities or differences that might establish when or where Matchen first became established.

Of the special features and aspects of individual colonies, there is more documented history and lore for these points are captured by the WritkissWritkiss and newly arrived members of this caste are typically assiduous in seeking out and having explained any aspects that they are unfamiliar with (all transferred Drakiss seek out such differences, but the Writkiss are notable for seeking the whys as well as the whats, and then documenting them).

Execution

In the normal run of things, the nine days of Matchen are half holidays with the groups spending as much time together as possible. The circumstances of a caste or the colony may allow for more or less time but for essentials for the colony (food preparation for example) the less burdened members of the group will help out to speed the availability of their writhe-members. Drakiss who are not members of a writhe will work as normal. While most writhes have a small sign or marker of their identity, in Matchen more elaborate and obvious shared decorations (be it body paint, other ornaments) will be worn with pride and this is withut doubt the most colourful time of the year in any Drakiss colony. The first day of matchen sees the the formal inclusion of any new members of the Writhe - this is the one public and, in some colonies, official part of Matchen and after that it is each writhe to its own devices and customs. What these have in common is little other than the direct involvement of every member in whatever the activity is; some groups will decorate their dwelling, others devote many hours to feasting or discussion. Some even concoct intricate plans that take muchof the free tim of the preceding months to develop; though most will approach it day by day or only looking as far ahead as the next meal. It is sad to note that by the ninth day of this some will have tired of their group sufficiently that the end of Matchen is the most frequent time for Drakiss to leave their Writhe. Many see these tensions as a test of their attachment to their writhe and value them as a proof of this.

I came to this colony five years ago; I was Unmatched before then for I was still young and it was only after making Matchen in the third year I was here that I truely felt that this colony, not my hatch-home was my true home. The annual reaffirmation with my Writhe reminds me how lucky I am to have their support and company - and this year I hope to complete my first change and lay for the first time, with my writhe's help.

— Bostox, of Jorrock's Company

'Tis alike to be a week long blunder
Than the promised nine days wonder
Seeing writhes get torn asunder
To the sound of rows like thunder.

— stanza 14, Song of the Silent, on the subject of Matchen